Shloka 17
Nahuṣa Abhiṣeka and the Crisis of Restraint (नहुषाभिषेकः—दमभ्रंशः)
सतां संदृश्य दुष्टात्मा प्राह सर्वानू सभासद:
satāṁ saṁdṛśya duṣṭātmā prāha sarvānū sabhāsadaḥ | āgacchatu śacī mahāṁ kṣipram adya niveśanam ||
Ao ver a assembleia dos virtuosos, Nahuṣa, de ânimo perverso, dirigiu-se a todos os cortesãos: “Que Śacī venha depressa hoje à minha residência. Por que a rainha de Indra não se apresenta ao meu serviço? Eu sou o Indra entre os deuses e o soberano de todos os mundos; portanto, que a deusa Śacī venha imediatamente ao meu palácio.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that power without self-restraint turns into adharma: Nahusha’s pride makes him claim Indra’s position and demand Śacī’s submission, showing how arrogance and desire lead to ethical collapse and social disorder.
Nahusha, described as wicked-minded, addresses the assembled courtiers and orders that Śacī, Indra’s queen, be brought quickly to his palace, asserting that he is now Indra and lord of the worlds.